Project description:Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) shape brain function through complex mechanisms. We found that OPCs facilitate neuronal lysosome exocytosis by contacting neuronal somata. Reduced number or process branching of OPCs decreased these contacts, accompanied with lysosome accumulation and altered metabolism in neurons, and more senescent neurons with age. In Alzheimer's mouse models, OPC-neuron contacts were fewer, and lysosomes accumulated. Our findings are relevant for preventing aging-related pathologies and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Project description:Oligodendrocyte development is tightly controlled by extrinsic signals; however, mechanisms that modulate cellular responses to these factors remain unclear. Six-transmembrane glycerophosphodiester phosphodiesterases (GDEs) are emerging as central regulators of cellular differentiation via their ability to shed glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins from the cell surface. We show here that GDE3 controls the pace of oligodendrocyte generation by negatively regulating oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) proliferation. GDE3 inhibits OPC proliferation by stimulating ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF)-mediated signaling through release of CNTFRα, the ligand-binding component of the CNTF-receptor multiprotein complex, which can function as a soluble factor to activate CNTF signaling. GDE3 releases soluble CNTFRα by GPI-anchor cleavage from the plasma membrane and from extracellular vesicles (EVs) after co-recruitment of CNTFRα in EVs. These studies uncover new physiological roles for GDE3 in gliogenesis and identify GDE3 as a key regulator of CNTF-dependent regulation of OPC proliferation through release of CNTFRα.
Project description:Oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the central nervous system, are essential for correct brain function. They originate from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) through a differentiation process which is only incompletely understood and impaired in a variety of demyelinating diseases. Better knowledge of this differentiation holds the promise to develop novel therapies for these disorders. We investigated the differentiation of rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells to oligodendrocytes in vitro. After confirmation of differentiation by immunohistochemical analysis using cell type-specific marker proteins, we conducted a quantitative proteomics study using tandem mass tags (TMT). We investigated four time points of differentiation covering early, intermediate, and late stages. Data analysis was perfomed using Mascot and Maxquant.
Project description:Oligodendrocytes are generated from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Chd7 is ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling enzyme. We performed microarray analysis to examine changes in gene expression between control and Chd7 knockdown OPCs. Results provide insight into the function of Chd7 in oligodendrocyte development.
Project description:Transcriptome outcome of rat oligodendrocyte precursor cells, which were knocked down with short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) for vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1)
Project description:Glial cytoplasmic inclusion is the pathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy commonly observed as alpha-synulcien-positive aggregates within oligodendrocytes. We elucidated that preformed alpha-synulcien fibrils triggers multimerization and upsurge of endogenous alpha-synulcien in oligodendrocyte precursor cells which is attributable to insufficient autophagic proteolysis. To assess the functional influence of alpha-synuclein fibrils application on oligodendrocyte precursor cells, RNA-seq analysis was performed. The data revealed that alpha-synulcien fibrils interfered with numerous protein expressions associated with neuronal support and myelination.